Cognitive effect of passively induced kinesthetic perception associated with virtual body augmentation modulates spinal reflex.

The virtual movement of an augmented body, perceived as part of oneself, forms the basis of kinesthetic perception induced by visual stimulation (KINVIS). KINVIS is a visually induced virtual kinesthetic perception that clinically suppresses spasticity. The present study hypothesized that central neural network activity during KINVIS affects subcortical neural circuits.

Effects of running with surgical masks on cardiopulmonary function in healthy male university students.

[Purpose] In Japan, one measure against the novel coronavirus disease-2019 infection involves the public use of surgical masks. Research indicates that exercising while wearing a mask increases the physical burden, particularly affecting young people during high-intensity exercise. This study examined the effects of wearing masks while running in male university students.

Categorizing knee hyperextension patterns in hemiparetic gait and examining associated impairments in patients with chronic stroke.

Background: Post-stroke hemiparetic gait exhibits considerable variations in motion patterns and abnormal muscle activities, notably knee hyperextension during the stance phase. Existing studies have primarily concentrated on its joint angle or moment. However, the underlying causes remain unclear.

Changes in acceleration and deceleration factors associated with active gait speed adjustment.

[Purpose] The ability to actively adjust walking speed is fundamental and the factors enabling it should be assessed. The present study aimed to demonstrate how active gait speed is kinematically adjusted. [Participants and Methods] Walking acceleration and deceleration were evaluated in 16 healthy adults using three-axis accelerometers and surface electromyographs.

Reconsidering the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Japan: What Direction Should Japanese Nurse Practitioners Aim for?

This article explores the dynamic role of nurse practitioners in Japan, contextualized against an aging population and declining birth rates. It emphasizes the imperative for Japanese nurse practitioners to broaden their scope of practice to effectively meet the nation's diverse healthcare demands within a constrained resource framework. The study highlights the critical need for Japan to align its nurse practitioners' training with international educational standards, advocating for a graduate-level curriculum that blends in-depth theoretical knowledge with practical skillsets.

[Effect of safinamide on morning-off phenomenon in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease].

Aim: Morning-off is a symptom experienced by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), which markedly reduces patients' quality of life. The present study evaluated the effect of safinamide on morning-off in elderly PD patients.

Methods: This observational study included 30 PD patients treated with 50 or 100 mg/day of safinamide in the evening.

Cost-effectiveness of occupational therapy for older adults: a protocol for an updated systematic review.

Introduction: The ageing populations in developed countries are a global concern, with increasing numbers of older adults facing physical, cognitive and psychological challenges, resulting in reduced quality of life and higher healthcare costs. Healthcare expenditure worldwide has been on the rise, especially among older adults, emphasising the importance of enabling independent living while reducing healthcare costs. Occupational therapy holds promising outcomes in promoting functional independence and enhancing the quality of life for older adults, but research on its cost-effectiveness remains limited.

Long-term course of developmental dysplasia of the hip: follow-up of the non-operated hips of patients undergoing unilateral rotational acetabular osteotomy for twenty-four years.

Purpose: To follow-up the non-operated hips of patients who underwent unilateral rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) for bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) for a minimum of 20 years to clarify (1) the timing of onset of hip osteoarthritis (OA) in DDH, and (2) factors associated with the development of OA.

Methods: This study included 92 non-operated hips of patients who underwent unilateral RAO for bilateral DDH. We examined the timing of OA onset and total hip arthroplasty (THA) and the joint survival rate in the studied hips.

Chronological changes in the rate of surgical field contamination in the shoulder joint.

Background: In shoulder surgery, low-virulence bacteria such as Cutibacterium acnes and coagulase-negative staphylococci can cause postoperative infection. However, the degree of sterility during surgery after disinfection is not known, and the efficacy of double skin preparation for such bacteria is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate chronological changes in the surgical field contamination rate in the shoulder joint and to compare single and double skin preparation.

Therapeutic effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition on hyperexcitability of capsaicin sensitive bladder afferent neurons in mice with spinal cord injury.

Aims: Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been implicated as a key molecule of pathology-induced changes in C-fiber afferent nerve excitability, which contributes to the emergence of neurogenic detrusor overactivity due to spinal cord injury (SCI). It is also known that the second messenger signaling pathways activated by NGF utilize p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK). We examined the roles of p38 MAPK on electrophysiological properties of capsaicin sensitive bladder afferent neurons with SCI mice.

Arthroscopic Treatment of a Ganglion Cyst Originating from the Transverse Acetabular Ligament in the Hip Joint A Case Report.

Introduction: Intra-articular ganglion in the hip joint is rare. Here, we present a case of ganglion cyst originating from the transverse acetabular ligament (TAL) in the hip joint treated by arthroscopic surgery.

Case Report: A 48-year-old man presented with the right groin pain after activity.

Pseudogout as a Cause of Fever of Unknown Origin Following Staphylococcal Bacteremia in an Older Patient.

The causes of fevers in older adults are numerous and diverse, resulting in fevers of unknown origin that complicate the diagnosis process. Compared to young adults, older adults are characterized by comorbidities, aging-induced physiological changes, decreased homeostasis, reduced activities of daily living, and a diminished quality of life due to disease and aging. Thus, diverse perspectives are required to facilitate the accurate diagnosis of fever in older adults.

Behavioral Assessment of Unilateral Spatial Neglect with the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) Using the Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP) in Patients with Subacute Stroke during Rehabilitation in Japan.

The Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP) is an assessment tool for unilateral spatial neglect (USN), which is the scoring method for the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) based on detailed instructions. This study is aimed at determining the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the KF-NAP (KF-NAP-J), evaluating the improvement of neglect assessment with KF-NAP-J, and comparing it with the original CBS for subacute stroke patients. We assessed subacute stroke patients admitted to our intensive rehabilitation hospital.

What is the most cost-effective strategy for nasal screening and Staphylococcus aureus decolonization in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty?

Background: To reduce periprosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty (THA), several nasal screening and decolonization strategies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) have been performed. These include universal decolonization (UD; i.e.

Can sterility of stripped iodophor-impregnated plastic adhesive drape be maintained at the time of incision closure in total hip arthroplasty?

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the contamination rates of the skin under the iodophor-impregnated plastic adhesive drape (IOD) at the time of incision closure in total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: A total of 225 patients undergoing primary THA (28 men, 197 women; mean age=65 years; age range=30-85) were included in this study. After asepsis using a solution of 1% chlorhexidine with 83% alcohol by volume, the surgical site was painted with a 10% povidone-iodine solution, and IOD was attached tautly at the start of surgery.

Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury.

The present article is an abridged English translation of the Japanese clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury updated as of July 2019. The patients are adult spinal cord injured patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction; special consideration of pediatric and elderly populations is presented separately. The target audience is healthcare providers who are engaged in the medical care of patients with spinal cord injury.

Postoperative creatine kinase elevation following hip arthroscopy and associated risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate postoperative CK and risk factors for CK elevation after hip arthroscopy.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 122 patients (50 males, 72 females; mean age, 44.1 years) who underwent hip arthroscopy from September 2012 to March 2018.

Preoperative Pain Control in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Does It Matter?

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the importance of preoperative pain control using corticosteroid injections in patients with persistent rest pain (RP) before arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR).

Methods: A total of 360 patients (374 shoulders) who underwent primary ARCR and were followed up for at least 2 years were enrolled. After one-to-one propensity score matching, 266 patients (145 men and 128 women, 273 shoulders) were included in the study.

Compound heterozygous splice site variants in the SCLT1 gene highlight an additional candidate locus for Senior-Løken syndrome.

Senior Løken syndrome (SLS) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by severe retinal degenerations and juvenile-onset nephronophthisis. Genetic variants in ten different genes have been reported as the causes of SLS. Clinical evaluation of a patient with SLS and her unaffected parents revealed that the patient had infantile-onset retinal dystrophy and juvenile-onset nephronophthisis.

Target range of motion at 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and its effect on the final outcome.

Purpose: The postoperative protocol after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is still controversial. Some surgeons recommend slower rehabilitation in order to improve the integrity of the repair, while others prefer early range-of-motion (ROM) exercise to avoid postoperative stiffness. The purpose of this study was to determine target ROM (T-ROM) measurements at 3 months after ARCR that are predictive of eventual full recovery without structural failure.

Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty in Hip Dysplasia with an Extensively Porous-Coated Cylindrical Stem Modified for Asians: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study.

Long-term outcomes of primary cementless total hip arthroplasty were examined for 198 hips of Asian patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. AML stems were modified for patients' relatively small physique. Stable fixation was achieved despite various proximal femoral deformities.

Lifestyle risk factors for pressure ulcers in community-based patients with spinal cord injuries in Japan.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Objectives: To identify daily living-related risk factors for pressure ulcer (PU) occurrence in community-living patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). To determine whether seat pressure influences PU occurrence, and how often patients with SCI perform pressure relief activities while living in the community.